Meeting Minutes

Kirkland Urban UpdateBill Leedom, the Director of Investments at Talon Private Capital, gave us an update on Kirkland Urban:

"Urban North", the building in the first phase, will be turned over from the contractor to the tenants on November 14th. Tableau will occupy the top 3 floors and are expected to complete the interior of their space around March 2019.

Talon is not able to disclose the names of other tenants, but we can surmise from news articles that Google is the second tenant that will occupy the remaining office space at the Kirkland Urban complex.

The QFC is expected to open in their new location in May or June of 2019. It will be a flagship location with a large format that includes a Starbucks inside.

Retail, restaurant and services tenants are expected to begin opening for business in late summer of 2019. Food tenants will include a bakery, fast-casual restaurant, burger chain, local coffee shop, a salad place, Chinese dumplings, cocktail bar, and a restaurant that used to be in Parkplace will return. Additional food offerings may include a food hall with sushi, Mexican and "wellness drinks", and possibly a pizza restaurant. Other tenants are expected to be a fitness center, sports-simulation entertainment, barbershop, pet store and clothing stores.

A luxury movie theater is not expected to open until 2021.

Construction on "Urban South" will begin once QFC has moved into their new space.

Parking: there will be 1,150 stalls in the first phase and an additional 500 in the second phase. It will be one of the largest parking garages on the Eastside. The stalls are 6 inches wider than required. 24 electric car charging stations are planned. The parking is set up with a gate system in case there becomes an issue with people parking and then leaving to use the transit center. If deployed, visitors will be issued parking stubs to be validated with one of the retail/service tenants.

185 apartments are planned to open in May 2019 and an additional 175 in the second phase. 75% of them will be studio or one bedrooms with an average of 750 square feet. The rest are two bedroom and two-story townhomes. Per Kirkland City requirements, 10% of the units are set aside as affordable housing units.

HopelinkTom Kreinbring shared information about Hopelink and new additions to the Turkey Trot fun run:

Hopelink's mission is to promote self-sufficiency for all members of our community; we help people make lasting change.

You can help by volunteering, participating in food drives and making financial donations.

The 18th annual Turkey Trot will be on November 18th beginning at 8AM. In addition to the fun run, there will be a fair with booths and family-friendly activities.

Crossing Kirkland 2019The 3rd annual Crossing Kirkland community event will be held September 7, 2019. It will shrink from 6 to 3 locations to make it easier to visit all event stations along the Cross Kirkland Corridor. The leadership team is seeking volunteers for Station Captain roles. Email contact@mossbay.org if you are interested.

Developer Update

The Bartell project at the Wendy's site has gone through Design Review Board approval and moving into the permitting process. They still need approval from the Planning Commission and City Council to determine plans for their rooftop space.

Milagro Cantina, the TimeOut sports bar and The Slip have closed. We have word that The Slip will reopen in the spring of 2019.

The development planned for the Petco location on NE 85th Street has pushed out their design review until December because of changes with their expected gym tenant.

Bike Sharing in KirklandAssistant City Manager Jim Lopez presented information about the potential for regulated bike-sharing in Kirkland. We already have Lime bikes in Kirkland because they are established in neighboring towns. The City is determining whether to formally regulate Lime bikes in a pilot program to exert some control over the ability to move bikes causing clutter and other concerns.

If the pilot program moves forward, there is not expected to be a cost to the City; in fact it may generate revenue. If there were costs, they would be for government-subsidized docking stations, which is not part of the pilot plan. Another option is to paint white-striped areas designated for parking bikes. If approved, the bikes are expected to be an all-electric fleet (pedaling takes less effort).

City Council is actively seeking resident input:

Those who attended the Moss Bay meeting had an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to Jim and City staff in-person, as well as filling out a paper survey.

A community input event is planned for December 6th at City Hall.

You can go to www.kirklandwa.gov and search for Bike Share Pilot program to learn more and provide feedback.

Off-Leash Dog AreasJim Lopez led us through a discussion on the possibility of expanding off-leash dog areas. By City law, only the Ethan Moulton Park's fenced-in dog trail and Jasper Park allow dogs off-leash. The City is considering options that include creating additional off-leash locations and/or having designated hours for pets to be off-leash in certain areas of parks.

The City now has an animal control officer that provides enforcement. The current enforcement policy is:

First offense: educate

Second offense: warn

Third offense: $25 ticket

Ticket fines double with each subsequent offense

City Council is seeking resident input:

Those who attended the Moss Bay meeting provided verbal feedback and had the opportunity to fill out paper surveys.

Tony Leavitt, Senior Planner with City of Kirkland provided information about two development projects near and in our neighborhood:

Rosehill mixed use project at the Petco/Outback site on NE 85th St.

The developer is Madison Development. Currently the developer hasn’t been able to acquire the U-haul site, but the proposed development area does include half of the Costco site’s parking lot.

770 apartment units are planned in 4 buildings 4-5 stories tall, with ground floor retail. They will provide 10% affordable housing units per City requirements. 200,000 square feet of commercial space is planned, including a large health club, a drugstore and a grocery store.

The project is designed in part to take advantage of the new Bus Rapid Transit being developed nearby NE 85th St.

Next steps:

The first design review board meeting was last week. October 15th will be the next design review board; it is expected to take to the end of 2018. There will be a traffic review to study impacts.

The developer is proposing code amendments to allow rooftop amenities, and also to reduce lot line requirements.

312 Central Project where Wendy’s is located:

The project was approved in the design review in July.

The four-story development will include about 70 apartment units, a 12,000 square foot Bartell drugstore and 5,500 square feet for restaurant space.

Next steps:

A code amendment was requested for rooftop amenities.

If the design and approval process is successful, construction is likely to start in the spring or summer of 2019.

Kurt Triplett, City Manager, delivered an informational presentation on the community safety ballot measure to be voted on during the November 2018 general election:

City staff is able to give us informational presentations but not direct residents in voting in favor or against the measure.

Planned growth in Kirkland is occurring at a faster pace than expected and revenues will be outpaced by costs and inflation beginning 2023. Services (including Parks) and programs will be cut unless additional budget is raised.

During the budgeting process, the City asks residents to take a survey to rate the priority of City services, and to rate how well the City performs those services. Emergency services rate at the top in both priority and satisfaction. There have been multiple outreach efforts to understand resident priorities and also what tax methods would be supported (soda tax, property tax, business tax, sales tax). A sales tax was the preferred choice.

Public safety concerns:

One area that the City struggles to keep up with is organized shoplifting and property crimes, and public safety challenges with mental illness and suicide, drug addiction, homelessness and domestic violence.

School safety is another area that residents have asked the City and School Board to address.

If passed, the measure would support:

Half a resource officer in schools (the other half paid for by Lake WA School district).

A ProAct police unit of 4 officers and 1 support staff position.

Adding a mental health professional with a neighborhood resource officer.

$100,000 for ongoing management of the Women and Family shelter in process.

Education program of $100,000 per year on gun safety and to possibly help people acquire gun safes.

The measure would increase sales tax rate by 0.1 percent, which is the equivalent of $0.01 (one cent) per $10.

Bea Nahon shared an update:

Kirkland Urban developers will come to our November meeting to share an update on their timeline and tenants.

The Chief of Police will talk about the Community Safety Ballot measure at the next KAN (Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods) meeting, this Wednesday, 7 PM at City Hall if you would like her perspective.

There is a “pro” ballot measure organization called Safer Kirkland. We are not aware of an opposing organization.

Amanda Judd gave a Crossing Kirkland recap:

There were 6 stations along the corridor sponsored by different neighborhood associations. There were live music performances, food trucks, and activities for kids.

Moss Bay had station #1 next to Google, and it was the most attended. We averaged about 125 attendees every hour. A big shout out and thanks to Amanda for managing our neighborhood presence at this fun event!

Planning for the 2019 event will start in March. We will ask for help planning and volunteering.

Neighborhood Safety Program:

As in past years, we can submit up to two projects that enhance safety within the Moss Bay neighborhood area. Projects must cost less than $50,000 each. Learn more at the Neighborhood Safety Program site.

Project ideas must be submitted to the Capital Improvements Projects tool by September 30th. In recent years, successfully funded projects have increased safety for large numbers of residents and either improved pedestrian/bike safety with measures to slow traffic or improve walkways. Adding/improving connection points to the Cross Kirkland Corridor have also been successful.

If you are interested in being our neighborhood’s representative for this process, email contact@mossbay.org for more information.

Vodais adjacent to the downtown transit station on the site of the former Antique mall. The address is 207 Park Lane.

There are 128 apartments total with studios, one and two bedrooms. 97% of the apartments have balconies. All have air conditioning. Amenities include a fitness center, 24 hour package concierge system, pet wash, and a grocery delivery fridge. They have partnered with the Heathman Hotel’s Trellis restaurant to have room service available to apartments.

The first residents took occupancy in March. 33% of the building is leased to-date.

Retail and parking details:

Banner Bank is going to move to one of their retail spaces. There are two additional retail spaces that don’t have signed leases yet.

There are 1.4 assigned parking spaces per apartment and designated spaces for visitor parking.

47 paid, public parking on the retail level is open from 5am – midnight. $1 per hour or $10 to park overnight.

This Saturday, May 19th, Voda is hosting an Open House from 11:30AM – 2:30PM with live music and refreshments. You are invited!

Crossing Kirkland event:

This is a city-wide block party that takes place on the Cross Kirkland Corridor on September 8th from 11am – 4pm. Moss Bay is hosting a station near the Google Campus.

There were 1500 participants last year. There are family-friendly activities, food trucks, and games. A new addition this year is to have musicians stationed at different points along the trail.

Please take the biennial Community Survey to gauge community attitudes about the quality of life in Kirkland, priorities for the future and satisfaction with City government and services. The survey is open until May 21st at https://www.research.net/r/2018KirklandCommunitySurvey

The State of the City address is planned for June 11th. The location has yet to be announced.

Council passed a resolution to start a conversation about gun safety and community safety. There will be a town hall meeting that has yet to be scheduled.

Work begins this month to install traffic signals at 6th Street and Kirkland Way and also at 6th Street and 9th Avenue South.

We voted to approve the slate of candidates for Moss Bay’s Neighborhood Association as follows: Chair – Aimee Voelz; Co-Chair – Amanda Judd; Treasurer – Leslie Keller. We have an open position for Secretary. If you are interested in an office or would just like to be more involved in the Association’s planning and events, email contact@mossbay.org.

Mark Craig and Anthony Jansen gave a presentation about the company’s history and plans for Central way.

This was originally the George Henry Bartell company, and has been in business since the early 1900’s. They work for the Bartell company in a separate activity from the drugstore chain.

Henbart Development is redeveloping the site at 312 Central Way, where Wendy’s is currently located. The project includes the alley behind the existing building, which will be redeveloped for traffic.

The plan is to build a Bartell drugstore on the site, although it isn’t confirmed at this time. There will be additional retail space on the site. They will develop two levels of underground parking. They are tentatively planning for 70 apartments built on top of the retail.

In the next month or so, the City will respond to their initial design. They estimate that it will be a year before they can break ground.

3. Kirkland’s Housing Strategy update

Dawn Nelson, Planning Supervisor with the City of Kirkland provided information about the City’s Housing Strategy Plan.

The City has had a Housing Strategy plan for about the last 20-25 years. It identifies priority issues for the City to address local housing goals and policies. For the last year, an advisory group made up of residents and stakeholders from businesses, education and the faith community has been meeting to help identify strategies that address these goals and policies.

The updated plan is intended to provide guidance for the next 3-5 years.

Over the year, the group sought community feedback through surveys, a workshop for Kirkland residents and focus groups.

The outcome of the group’s work was a set of strategies that were presented to the City Council on March 6, 2018. Ultimately City Council will decide on the recommendations and they will be added to the City’s work plan.

Leslie Miller, the Human Services Administrator for the City of Kirkland, gave a presentation about the Human Services Commission and the grants that available for organizations with relevant missions.

The City participates in regional initiatives for human services as well as at the City level.

There is an advisory Human Services Commission made up of 7 adults and 1 youth representative. They meet monthly and will determine the grant recipients.

The 2019 – 2020 grant process is shared among 17 regional cities. This creates a more efficient process for non-profits who need to submit grant requests to multiple cities: now the non-profits can submit one grant application and check a box to request which cities they would like to consider their grants.

Approximately $950,000 is available across the participating cities for agencies that provide services. The process can be found on the City’s website. Applications are due April 10, 2018.

Residents can reach out to City Council directly or the Human Services Commission if they would like the City to take into consideration a particular area of focus.

5. Kirkland Police

Captain St. Jean, who has been with the department for about 20 years, gave a presentation and answered questions.

There are about 60 patrol officers and 100 officers in total. Kirkland hired 17 new officers in 2017 and are now fully staffed. Budget has been approved for two officers for “pro-act”, which is a proactive regional approach to property crimes. There is a detective assigned to the US Secret Service. He helps work on digital crime and fraud. By May 1st, two officers will be on traffic patrol on motorcycles.

Crime update:

1,100 reports have been filed using the online reporting tool since it started a year ago.

In Moss Bay, in the last 3 months, there were 52 crimes. Most are shoplifting theft in businesses in downtown Kirkland. Downtown also has more DUI’s than some other neighborhood because of the concentration of bars and restaurants.

Violent crime has decreased in the last few years. Rape, robberies, assault, residential burglaries are all down.

What is increasing is motor vehicle theft and prowls. Stolen cars are often found in Everett or Auburn, and vehicles stolen from those areas can be found in Kirkland; thieves are using get between these cities. To try to combat this and other crime, the police request that citizens:

Don’t leave purses or laptops in cars, even if exiting the vehicle for just a moment.

Trust your gut if something or someone seems suspicious that help with property crimes.

For package theft: recommendations include having them delivered to your work or Amazon’s lockers, or use one of the lockbox products.

If you see needles in the parks, call 911, don’t touch it, and stay nearby so other people don’t accidentally get pricked by a needle.

Crime on the Cross Kirkland Corridor has been very low. They have two ATVs to patrol.

A question was asked about whether the rumors of the Kirkland library parking is unsafe – we hear that there is drug dealing. Captain St. Jean said they do extra patrols there and that the City Council is considering adding lighting and taking other measures to make people feel safer, such as replacing the cameras.

6. Neighborhood Safety Program

We have one project submitted: adding a crosswalk at Marina Park’s north side. We will find out whether this project is funded by the April 17, 2018 City Council meeting.

Michael Olsen of Kirkland's Finance and Administration Department provided an update on the new ordinance, which mainly applies to Aibnb and vacation rentals.

Key requirements for property owners include both City and State business licenses and paying State lodging tax.

The City is enforcing the policy mainly by responding to complaints, but they may contract with a vendor or use software. The City mails letters to people out of compliance and if they continue to violate the rules, it is a misdemeanor crime.

Bed and Breakfast rules for parking apply for short-term rentals, which is one parking stall per room rented.

His primary role is to act as a liaison between the City and the Neighborhood Associations. This includes communicating City happenings and policies to the Associations and to other community or religious organizations.

He produces the “This Week in Kirkland” email newsletter that you can subscribe to here.

3.Animal Services

The City stopped contracting with King County for animal licensing, shelters, and animal control and is now managing this directly.

Dogs and cats are required to be licensed. We have a new dedicated Animal Control Officer that can help with nuisance complaints. The program resides with the police department. The Officer is Jennifer Madison at 425-577-7656. Email animalcontral@kirklandwa.gov.

4.Parks

The dock at Marina Park will be closed for about 6 weeks while underwater repairs are made. More information can be found here.

Edith Moulton Park will be closed until July for extensive renovations and improvements. More information can be found on the Edith Moulton Park webpage.

5.Moss Bay's Neighborhood Safety Program projects and Matching Grant program

Two projects have been submitted to the 2018 Neighborhood Safety Program: a crosswalk at Marina Park and improving a trail connecting the Cross Kirkland Corridor to 5th Ave/10th St. Aimee Voelz is participating in the grant process and will keep you updated.

We had applied for a matching grant to install a sign at Marina Park. After working with the City’s Parks Department and getting bids from vendors, we unfortunately determined that the project isn’t feasible. However, we’ve learned that the City will eventually install a Marina Park sign on their own, within the next few years.

6.Developer activity:

SRM: the planned traffic signals on 6th Ave S and 9th and at Kirkland Way were paid for by SRM in 2014 but will be installed by the City. There were delays in part because the City needed to acquire private property to accommodate buses turning the corners at these intersections.

At 3rd and Central where Wendy’s is located, a design has been submitted for 80 housing units and a 17,000 square foot Bartell’s.

Park Lane apartments are anticipated 128 units and 13,000 square foot of commercial are anticipated being done in the Spring. We don’t know who the retailers will be yet.

Aegis will go in the former Potala Village site – it has been approved in the design phase by the City.

The Olympic building where the Christmas Store and Haute Dog store 40 townhome units and some commercial space.

7.Sign Regulations

The City has received many complaints about the existing sign code. A hearing will be held on January 11th at 7PM at City Hall to solicit feedback on amendments to the current code. You may also email comments to jregala@kirklandwa.gov (reference File No. CAM17-00419 and include your name, mailing address and email address).

One proposed amendment is to allow A-frame signs and other temporary signs. You can read the existing Temporary Sign code here.

8.Transportation Update

a. Bus route 255, our direct route to downtown Seattle, will eventually be routed to the UW station. This was originally planned for Fall 2018 but the route will remain as-is until at least March 2019.

b.City Council has added bus queue jumps on 6th and 108th to the unfunded Capital program. If funding is secured, this change would allow Northbound buses to bypass cars waiting at traffic lights so they aren’t delayed by congestion.

9.KAN is meeting on Wednesday at City Hall and a key topic will be the sign ordinance.